Scholarship Scheme:

Hon. LIFAKA extends largesse to OIC trainees

    Some 36 OIC trainees have benefited from the MP’s Vocational Training Scholarship Scheme for 2016.

By Ajongakou Santos in Buea

Hon. Lifaka hands 6.2 million to OIC director

Thirty six (36) trainees of the Cameroon Opportunities Industrialization Centre, COIC Buea have benefited from the Hon. Emelia Lifaka vocational training scholarship scheme. The Award Ceremony took place at the COIC Buea campus, last Wednesday, April 6, 2016.

                The 36 trainees are less privilege youths selected by chiefs of some villages in the Fako constituency. They included trainees in Hotel Catering and Management (9), auto mechanics and motor electricity (5), building construction, plumbing and electricity (9); metal works (6), information and communication technology (3), textile and fashion design (1), and woodwork (3).

Aimed at bringing hope to the hopeless, Hon. Lifaka’s scholarship scheme which amounted to FCFA 6.2 million was in its second edition, after the first edition last year. It should be recalled that twenty-six COIC trainees benefited from the scholarship scheme last year.

                Addressing the crowds that came to witness and support her generosity, Hon. Lifaka said: “My wish is that these children put this opportunity into great use by coming to school and taking their time to study in the different departments of the institution. I will be a fulfilled politician when I know that at the end of my mandate I would have touched the lives of as many people as possible and one of the ways of doing that is by teaching them how to fish instead of providing them with fish.”

                She added; “It is a process that will continue. The first batch of beneficiaries will graduate next September; after which I will try within the confines of my ability to see how some of them can be assisted to begin something that can help them to become independent. Until this is done I will not have achieved my objectives.”

                The representative of the beneficiaries, Likambi Francis, thanked Hon. Lifaka for her kind gesture and said the scholarship scheme will make them self-reliant. He added that they will will do everything to be disciplined at school so as not to fail the MP.

                Most of the beneficiaries told The Median that Hon Lifaka’s gesture is timely given that they were unable to finance their education. Like Over Twist, the trainees asked for more support not only from the Honorable but also from the local chiefs and elite of Fako division.

                While handing the 6.2 million scholarship grant to the director of COIC Buea (Elinge Marie Limunga) the Honorable Vice President of Cameroon’s National Assembly challenged the school authorities and students to make good use of the very rare opportunity.

                Honorable Lifaka was lauded for her good will, notably her recent funding of the construction of a community hall at Mapanja village, and the award of scholarship to some female youths at the Buea Women Empowerment Centre.

                The event was graced by several animation groups, notably the Wana Wa Ndeli from Mapanja village, the COIC choir, the Fako Women Development Association (FAWODA) and Solidarity Youths from Maumu.